DEPARTMENT: Transportation & Capital Improvements
DEPARTMENT HEAD: Mike Frisbie, P.E./Director
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: Council District 2
SUBJECT: Disposition: ROW Closure (unimproved portion of Roper Street between Dignowity and Runnels)
SUMMARY:
An ordinance authorizing the closure, vacation and abandonment of a 0.275 acre (11,979 square feet) unimproved portion of Roper Street between Dignowity Drive and Runnels Avenue for a fee of $6,531.00 in Council District 2 as requested by Live Small, LLC.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
The petitioner (Live Small, LLC) has been involved in discussions with local military officials regarding a Veteran's Transition and Conference Center. A current veteran's transition program is administered on Fort Sam Houston and effective through the date of discharge from military service. The military wanted to move the program off-post so services could be expanded and offered for a longer period of time after discharge. The concept was to create a one-stop shop to assist military personnel prior to and up to one year after discharge. A lack of meeting spaces was another ongoing concern.
The solution identified was a private/public partnership between the military and Live Small, LLC to construct a facility convenient to Fort Sam Houston, to meet the needs of military personnel transitioning to civilian life (Veterans Transition Center) and that could provide meeting, conference and events space for the local military and the community (Conference Center).
The petitioner is purchasing property from Union Pacific Railroad located at 409 and 503 Roper Street in order to develop the property into the Veterans Transition and Conference Center. The proposed level of investment is $11.8 million. The first two stories of the building (20,000 square feet) will serve as a non-profit Transition Center; a clearinghouse that veterans can visit and obtain information and access to services. Service members will enter the prog...
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